The lowdownThe spa industry has seen sturdy growth and is expected to expand dynamically in the coming years. Growing health awareness among individuals has created strong opportunities for the existing and new entrants in this sector. Running a spa is a lucrative business
and it rewards you both personally and professionally. To be a spa owner, you need to research what skills will be needed to successfully pilot the business. Besides having wider knowledge about the industry you should also be good at handling finances, personnel recruitment, training and performance management. You will need a solid background in retail sales and customer service. You are directly responsible for the smooth operation and increasing success of the spa. As a spa owner, you could experience the satisfaction of owning a business that helps people take care of their health and well-being. You could even enjoy your own spa’s services whenever you want!

ClockworkAn average day of a spa owner6am: Wake-up call6.30am: Do some exercises or play tennis, go for horse riding8am: Breakfast9am: Reach office. Start the day with some paperwork, checking mails, meeting clients and customers1pm: Lunch1.30pm: Plan meetings and draw up plans for the next day. Develop policies and procedures, keeping the staff organised and motivated. Analyse the budget, develop a successful marketing campaign, work on improving client retentions, increasing sales and creating new activities that appeal to a wide range of customers4.30pm: Visit the outlet to ensure smooth functioning of the spa7.30pm: Leave for home

The payoffIt is your passion and hard work that decides how much you will earn. The growth process is likely to be slow and you should not expect immediate returns. The money you make in this profession also depends on the service you offer, the facilities, your reputation and location

Skills/TRAITS* Consumer-focused* Good recruiter* You must be good in crisis management* You must be a good salesperson* Ability to manage finances well * Great leadership qualities * You must be willing to experiment and take risks as it will mean you have better chances to succeed

Getting thereWork with experts in fields of alternative medicine, system design and spa management. The best way to get started is by becoming a franchise of a reputed spa chain, learn the basics and then move further to expand your business. BSc and MSc degrees will help as you will work in a sector related to healthcare

Institutes and URLs Though there’s no specific course that is a prerequisite to enter this field, a background in commerce, retail and managing finances helps. You should also have knowledge of ayurveda, naturopathy and other forms of cure so a science degree helps

Pros and cons* Growth-oriented industry* Promotes wellness* It’s expensive to start a business and raising funds could be a problem

As a spa owner, you have a chance to experiment, be creative, develop your leadership skills and business acumen - Siddharth Shankar,director, Mystic Cures Limited, New Delhi